The owners of Riverside Retail Park have expressed disappointment and frustration at the recent refusal by CC&G Planning Committee to allow them to continue to develop by replacing part of the previously consented and implemented development to create a 40,000 sq ft bulky goods retail warehouse unit along with an adjacent 8,000 sq ft Garden Centre.

It is hugely frustrating that an application that was in the planning system for over 2.5 years has resulted in this outcome. We have demonstrated throughout the application that the retail space has previously been consented, a fact accepted by CC&G Planning Department and illustrated by our team at the Committee Meeting, effectively all we had been seeking was consent to combine the 4 units and the addition of an 8,000 sq ft garden centre.

Coleraine people would like to know the reasons behind this decision & it be made public, Coleraine for years has had retailers turned down for no reason. Such as Home Bargains, Primark & The Range.

Things need to change in this town to make it better for future for retail and the people living there.